Avoca Garden Cafe is Bord Bia’s Just Ask! Restaurant of the Month of June

The Avoca Garden Café at Mount Usher Gardens, Wicklow

has been awarded Bord Bia’s Just Ask! Restaurant of the Month for June. Located in the picturesque gardens of Mount Usher Co. Wicklow, the Avoca Garden Café prides itself on seasonality using the best of local produce and regional artisan food suppliers. This is quite evident in their menus.

This award comes at a busy time for the Avoca Garden Café as the Mount Usher Gardens will be busy as part of the Wicklow Garden Festival from 11^th- 20^th June.

Andrew Holmes, Head Chef at the restaurant, insists on using as much local produce as possible. "I'm delighted for all involved!" he said when he was told of the award. "It's a pleasure to get the opportunity to work with the best local produce here at Avoca and to continue to build a close relationship with our artisan suppliers".  

Andrew is keen to acknowledge his food suppliers. They are, after all, "the people who provide the basic ingredients and help to make the The Avoca Garden Café one of the favourite eating establishments in the region". He sources their beef, lamb, sausages and bacon from local butcher, Niall Dowling in Ashford and organic pork from Gold River Farm.  Their fresh fish is supplied daily and direct from Atlantis Seafood, Kilmore Quay. Free range chicken is supplied by Bertram Salter of Carlow Foods and their eggs come from Martha and Gary Crocker’s organic farm in Wicklow!

 All fruit and vegetables used in the café are sourced locally from Ann Kuntz of Kilcoole, Gold River Farm in Aughrim, Keoghs fruit farm in Enniskerry and Kearns Farm at Newcastle. All the breads and pastries are homemade, on the premises, by Andrew and his team.

John & Bernie Hempenstall’s Wicklow Blue Brie will always be among the range of Irish farmhouse cheeses offered!

Bernie Burke of Tara Co. Meath supplies the ice cream from her families’ Jersey cows which complement Avoca Garden Cafe's homemade apple crumble. Other suppliers from around Ireland include Living Foods Company, Wicklow - Ian McIntosh from Tyrone's Organic Five-Mile-Town goat’s cheese and Smoked Duck and Smoked Salmon from Anthony Creswell's Ummera Smokehouse based in Co.Cork. 

Just Ask! is a Bord Bia campaign which aims to encourage consumers to look for information on where their food comes from when eating out and encourages chef’s to provide the information on their menus. According to recent research from Bord Bia, 81% of Irish diners believe it’s important that restaurants use local produce with 72% deeming it important that the origin of meat is listed on the menu.

Georgina Campbell's Ireland Guide said, "The great thing about the menus at Avoca is that they change with the seasons and showcase a wide range of local producers, as well as observing the fundamental principle of traceability. The Mount Usher Gardens provide a magical setting for the café which I’m sure will be incredibly busy during the upcoming Wicklow Garden Festival".

Wicklow County Tourism celebrates the 22nd Wicklow Gardens Festival in 2011. Running from Saturday 11th - Sunday 19th June, it features a variety of private and public gardens each with their own unique theme and design- from Robinsonian and Formal to Victorian and Modern.

Each garden will be open to the public during the festival (for the hours stated on their individual pages) and will host various organised events such as talks, exhibitions, live music, picnics, workshops and more. www.visitwicklow.ie/gardens

As part of Bord Bia’s Just Ask! programme, restaurants listed on Georgina Campbell’s ireland-guide.com website are invited to submit copies of their menus and sourcing statements.  On a monthly basis, a Just Ask! winner is chosen by Georgina Campbell in agreement with Bord Bia. In addition, an overall Just Ask! annual award winner is selected as part of the Georgina Campbell Awards which will take place during October.

To get involved in Just Ask! or to find out more, see www.bordbia.ie. With so many great value restaurants right on your doorstep, eating out is still on the menu!

Visit Avoca Garden Café this month during Wicklow’s Garden Festival 11^th to 20th June

Don't forget to Feed the Fish at the bottom of this post!

zack

@irishfoodguide on Twitter

RAI say Irish Restaurant Sector will create 4000 new jobs if Joint Labour Committees are Abolished

Jobs Initiative Launches 9th May 2011

Irish Restaurant Sector will create 4000 new jobs

if Joint Labour Committees are Abolished.

Question for Competition Authority of Ireland :

Are Joint Labour Committees are Anti-Competitive?

Potential 1000 Work Placement Apprenticeship schemes in Restaurants.

The Restaurant Association of Ireland (RAI), the body representing the interests of Ireland’s restaurant industry today urged Government to abolish the Catering Joint Labour Committee (JLC), as part of today's Jobs Initiative' and to immediately scrap Sunday Premiums Payments.
The JLC sets minimum terms and conditions of employment in the catering sector above and beyond the national minimum wage, including premium payment for weekend and overtime work. An independent review of these wage rules is being conducted as part of the agreement with the EU and IMF.

Adrian Cummins, CEO, Restaurants Association of Ireland

Restaurant Association of Ireland Chief Executive, Adrian Cummins, says that the current Joint Labour Committee system results in an effective minimum wage ranging from €9.32 per hour for restaurants. He said, “The current system makes absolutely no sense for our country as we try to work our way out of the depths of an economic crisis. The economic situation in Ireland has changed dramatically but the JLC system has not taken this into account in any way.  It is forcing restaurants, which are struggling to survive and in many cases operating at loss, to pay a premium over and above the national minimum wage.”

Results from a survey of Restaurants, conducted by the Restaurants Association of Ireland last week, showed that Catering Employment Regulation Orders imposed by Joint Labour Committees were creating a barrier to employment.

37.2% of Restaurants surveyed Close on Sunday due to Sunday Premium Payments.

85% of Restaurants surveyed stated that they would employ a minimum of 2 more staff if Employment Regulation Orders set by Joint Labour Committees were scrapped.

Adrian Cummins stated that if 85% of the 2500 licenced restaurants in the country employed 2 more staff, the Restaurant sector would yield over 4000 new jobs for the Government.

A Question for Competition Authority of Ireland:
Are Joint Labour Committees Anti-Competitive?

The Restaurants Association of Ireland also has questioned why the Competition Authority of Ireland hasn’t intervened in the discussion regarding the Review of the Joint Labour Committees set up by the Department of Enterprise, Jobs and Innovation.

“The Restaurants Association of Ireland were taken aback by the non-engagement by the Competition Authority of Ireland in the Review of the Joint Labour Committees. You have to question if the Department of Enterprise, Jobs and Innovation who are the parent Department of the Competition Authority of Ireland didn’t want the obvious question answered. Are the Employment Regulation Orders Anti-Competitive or not. ?”

Potential 1000 Work Placement Apprenticeship schemes in Restaurants.

The Restaurants Association of Ireland also outlined the possibility of taking a further 1000 unemployed off the
Live Register under a Restaurant Work placement Apprenticeship scheme.
“The Restaurant Sector are willing to develop a Restaurant Work placement Apprenticeship scheme in association with Failte Ireland, FAS and Department of Social Protection that gives employers the financial incentive to take on apprentices and helps participants protect their social welfare entitlements. The current work placement scheme run by FAS is unworkable for the restaurant sector.”

1: Unfair Joint Labour Committee System must be Abolished-
Or More Jobs will be Lost.

• Abolishing Catering Joint Labour Committee Minimum rates. Ireland is 54% higher than Spain and 23% Higher than UK.
• The Restaurant Association of Ireland maintains that the national minimum wage should be the sole statutory minimum wage in Ireland so as to provide fairness for all employers and foster job creation. This would replace the array of legal wage rates established by the JLC process which imposes legally binding conditions of employment to which other economic sectors are not subject.
• Most Expensive Country in EU to run a Restaurant.

3. Abolishing the Sunday Premium Scheme.

• Irealnd is the Only Country in Europe that pay a premium
• Restaurant Owners pay 33% wage premium on a Sunday.

The Irish Restaurant industry employs 64,000 people (1 in 4 tourism jobs) and contributes €2 billion to the Irish economy each year.

• Irish restaurateurs pay the  highest catering wage rate in Europe 
• Ireland has the highest excise duty on wines in Europe 
• Irish food cost inputs are 24% above the European average.
  (source ‘Cost Of Food Preparation Report’, commissioned by Fáilte Ireland) 

The Joint Labour Committee system was established under the Industrial Relations Act 1946, but has its origins in the Trade Board Act 1909.  

European National Minimum Wage Rates 2011
Country	€ per Hour
Luxembourg	10.14
Ireland Catering ERO	9.32
France	9.00
Netherlands	8.22
Belgium	8.16
Ireland Minimum Wage	7.65
U K Minimum Wage	7.06
Austria	6.73
Cyprus	4.85
Greece	4.27
Spain	4.01
Malta	3.84
Slovenia	3.06
Portugal	2.80
Slovak	1.83
Estonia	1.60

For further information on this data contact:
Adrian Cummins - CEO Restaurant Association of Ireland
http://www.rai.ie/ 
Mobile: 086 8263311

Ed's note - Many of the staff employed in the Irish Tourism Industry are not in a union and therefore do not avail of the Sunday Premium payment.
Don't Forget to feed the Fish at the bottom of this post!
zack

Ashford Castle is Bord Bia’s Just Ask! Restaurant of the Month, May 2011

Ashford Castle, Mayo, has been awarded Bord Bia’s Just Ask! Restaurant of the Month for May. The award recognises Ashford Castle’s use of local produce and inclusion of this detail on the menus at the castles four restaurants – The Drawing Room, Cullen’s at the Dungeon, Cullen’s at the Cottage and the George V Dining Room. The menus of executive Head Chef Stefan Matz are a tribute to the wonderful produce available in the West of Ireland, notably its wonderful fresh Seafood and Connemara lamb.

The George V Dining Room dedicates a full page at the front of its menu to introducing all the food suppliers to Ashford Castle. The more contemporary informal Cullen’s menus provide diners with a more intimate descriptive style, inviting visitors to ask questions about the producers who are named on every dish.

Just Ask! is a Bord Bia campaign which aims to encourage consumers to look for information on where their food comes from when eating out and encourages chef’s to provide the information on their menus. According to recent research from Bord Bia, 81% of Irish diners believe it’s important that restaurants use local produce with 72% deeming it important that the origin of meat is listed on the menu.

Commenting on his win Stefan Matz said, “I have a passion for the wild and artisan food of the West. My well trained staff like nothing better than to chat to guests about each and every ingredient named, which sets the food in context and makes a wonderfully evocative culinary introduction to the region for visitors”.

Georgina Campbell congratulated Ashford Castle on becoming the Just Ask! Restaurant of the Month for May adding, “While there may be a hint of artistic license to the Ashford Castle motto ‘Excellence since 1228’, there is no questioning the excellence offered today, and every time food is served in this magnificent place it showcases the produce with the area with pride”.

As part of Bord Bia’s Just Ask! programme, restaurants listed on Georgina Campbell’s independently assessed ireland-guide.com website are invited to submit copies of their menus and sourcing statements. 

On a monthly basis, a Just Ask! winner is chosen by Georgina Campbell in agreement with Bord Bia. In addition, an overall Just Ask! annual award winner is selected as part of the Georgina Campbell Awards which take place during October.

To get involved in Just Ask! or to find out more, see www.bordbia.ie. With so many great value restaurants right on your doorstep, eating out is still on the menu!

For more information on Ashford Castle visit http://www.ashfordcastle.ie.

Farmgate Café, Cork awarded Bord Bia’s Just Ask! Restaurant of the Month for April 2011

1^st April, 2011 and Farmgate Café, Cork has been awarded Bord Bia’s Just Ask! Restaurant of the Month for April 2011.  Situated overlooking Cork’s famed English Market; Farmgate Café is an example of what is best about sourcing ingredients locally. Farmgate Café prides itself on using fresh Irish food that has travelled as short a distance as possible to reach customers’ plates, with almost all of the produce coming straight from the market counters downstairs.

Farmgate Café only uses beef, lamb, chicken, eggs and vegetables produced in Ireland. Against the backdrop of a bustling market, freshly shucked oysters are brought straight to the table from O’Connell’s fish stall downstairs. Meat, locally reared, comes from trusted Market craft butchers, and the finest of fresh fish is chosen every morning from O’Connell’s and Ballycotton Seafood – the Market is the café’s larder. Cork cheese makers, Molaga Honey and Thornhill Organic salad leaves from West Cork are delivered directly to the Café.

Just Ask! is a Bord Bia campaign which aims to encourage consumers to look for information on where their food comes from when eating out and encourages chef’s to provide the information on their menus. According to recent research from Bord Bia, 81% of Irish diners believe it’s important that restaurants use local produce with 72% deeming it important that the origin of meat is listed on the menu.

Farmgate Café owner, Kay Harte said, “Situated in the oldest Market in Ireland, centuries old traditional, seasonal, regional, even ‘forgotten’ foods are at the core of Farmgate ethos, and a visible link between the menu and the wonderful array of produce downstairs in the Market plays a key role in how our menu is written each day. We work closely with Market traders, as well as an array of local and regional producers to bring simple but wonderful Irish food to the table.”

Georgina Campbell said, “Farmgate provides a uniquely Irish eating experience and plays a role in supporting a vibrant Irish food culture while truly embracing how good indigenous ingredient and food products are and as virtually all ingredients are purchased from the market downstairs daily, or from other trusted suppliers nearby, it doesn’t come much fresher or more local than this.”

As part of Bord Bia’s Just Ask! programme, restaurants listed on Georgina Campbell’s ireland-guide.com website are invited to submit copies of their menus and sourcing statements.  On a monthly basis, a Just Ask! winner is chosen by Georgina Campbell in agreement with Bord Bia. In addition, an overall Just Ask! annual award winner is selected as part of the Georgina Campbell Awards which take place during October.

To get involved in Just Ask! or to find out more, see www.bordbia.ie. With so many great value restaurants right on your doorstep, eating out is still on the menu!

For more information on Farmgate Café visit www.farmgate.ie/corkhome.htm

Connaught Regional Winners at the RAI Irish Restaurant Awards 2011

The Restaurant Association of Ireland #raiawards11
The Irish Restaurants Awards for the Province of Connaught
were held on Monday 28th March 2011, in The House Hotel, Galway.

The Full List of Regional Winners for Connaught are:

2011 Best Customer Service Award Galway - Lough Inagh Lodge

2011 Best Customer Service Award Leitrim - The Cottage

2011 Best Customer Service Award Mayo - Café Rua

2011 Best Customer Service Award Roscommon - The Purple Onion

2011 Best Customer Service Award Sligo - Davis Restaurant @ Yeat’s Tavern

2011 Best Wine Experience - Ashford Castle, Co. Mayo

2011 Best Casual Dining Award Galway - Bar 8

2011 Best Casual Dining Award Leitrim - Courtyard Kitchen

2011 Best Casual Dining Award Mayo - Sol Rio

2011 Best Casual Dining Award Roscommon - Meet You Here Café

2011 Best Casual Dining Award Sligo - Bistro Bianconi

2011 Best Hotel Restaurant Award Galway - Rosleague Manor

2011 Best Hotel Restaurant Award Leitrim - Lough Rynn castle

2011 Best Hotel Restaurant Award Mayo - The Kitchen Restaurant @ Mount Falcon

2011 Best Hotel Restaurant Award Roscommon - Abbey Hotel

2011 Best Hotel Restaurant Award Sligo - Romleach Lodge

2011 Best Gastro Pub Award Galway - O’Dowds

2011 Best Gastro Pub Award Leitrim – The Oarsman Bar

2011 Best Gastro Pub Award Mayo - Bar One

2011 Best Gastro Pub Award Roscommon - The Purple Onion

2011 Best Gastro Pub Award Sligo – Hargadon’s

2011 Best Chef Award Galway - Jess Murphy, Bar 8

2011 Best Chef Award Leitrim - Piero Meilis, The Courthouse

2011 Best Chef Award Mayo - Phillipe Farineau, Mount Falcon

2011 Best Chef Award Roscommon - Vincent Meldrum, The Purple Onion

2011 Best Chef Award Sligo - Moria Tighe, Cromleach Lodge

2011 Best Restaurant Award Galway - Asian Tea House

2011 Best Restaurant Award Leitrim - The Cottage

2011 Best Restaurant Award Mayo – The Market Kitchen

Y011 Best Restaurant Award Roscommon - The yew Tree

2011 Best Restaurant Award Sligo - Coach Lane @ Donaghy’s

The County winners will now compete for the Regional and All Ireland Titles in the Burlington Hotel Dublin on Wednesday 25^th May 2011. See www.irishrestaurantawards.com for more.

Congratulations to all those took part from zack at the @irishfoodguide

Munster Regional Winners at the RAI Irish Restaurant Awards 2011

The Restaurant Association of Ireland #raiawards11

The Irish Restaurants Awards for the Provence of Munster
were held tonight (Monday 21st March 2011) in Cork City Hall.

The Full List of Regional Winners for Munster are:

2011 Best Customer Service Award Limerick - The Mustard Seed
2011 Best Customer Service Award Cork - The Cornstore
2011 Best Customer Service Award Kerry - Mulcahys
2011 Best Customer Service Award Clare - Gregans Castle
2011 Best Customer Service Award Tipperary - The Old Convent
2011 Best Customer Service Award Waterford - O'Brien Chop House

2011 Best Wine Experience Award Munster - Hayfield Manor

2011 Best Casual Dining Experience Award Cork - Farmgate Cafe
2011 Best Casual Dining Experience Award Limerick - La Cucina
2011 Best Casual Dining Experience Award Kerry - Jam Cafe Deli Bakery
2011 Best Casual Dining Experience Award Clare - Cullinans
2011 Best Casual Dining Experience Award Tipperary - Cafe Hans
2011 Best Casual Dining Experience Award Waterford - Bodega

2011 Best Hotel Restaurant Award Tipperary - Inch House
2011 Best Hotel Restaurant Award Clare - Gregans Castle
2011 Best Hotel Restaurant Award Kerry - Carrig
2011 Best Hotel Restaurant Award Limerick - The Mustard Seed
2011 Best Hotel Restaurant Award Waterford - The Munster Room, Waterford Castle
2011 Best Hotel Restaurant Award Cork - Longueville House

2011 Best Gastro Pub Award Cork  - Cronins
2011 Best Gastro Pub Award Limerick - Aubars
2011 Best Gastro Pub Award Kerry - Allos
2011 Best Gastro Pub Award Clare - Roadside Tavern
2011 Best Gastro Pub Award Tipperary - Larkins
2011 Best Gastro Pub Award Waterford - Becketts

2011 Best Chef Award Waterford - Paul Flynn, The Tannery
2011 Best Chef Award Tipperary - Dermot Gannon, The Old Convent
2011 Best Chef Award Clare - Michael Viljanen, Gregans Castle
2011 Best Chef Award Kerry - Martin Hallissey, Packies
2011 Best Chef Award Limerick - Tony Scharz White Sage
2011 Best Chef Award Cork - Brendan Cashman Augustines

2011 Best Restaurant Cork - Les Gourmandises
2011 Best Restaurant Limerick - The River Bistro
2011 Best Restaurant Kerry - Out of the Blue
2011 Best Restaurant, Tipperary - The Old Convent
2011 Best Restaurant, Waterford - The Tannery
2011 Best Restaurant, Clare - The Wild Inn

Congratulations to all those that won from zack at the @irishfoodguide